There’s nothing more quintessential summer than a cold drink on a warm afternoon, so today we’re getting a little creative and sharing two of our favorite fruit smoothie recipes and one slushie recipe to pair with breakfast, lunch, dinner or even to have for dessert. What we love about these three is that they each use healthful, readily available ingredients and take less than ten minutes to make from start to cleanup.
Spinach Mango Refresher
Makes two servings
Fresh spinach is what gives this smoothie its bright green color, but don’t let that scare you off! Spinach has a mild flavor that is almost completely masked by the sweet mango and tangy pineapple. This smoothie is a great way to sneak greens into your (or your little one’s) diet.
Ingredients
+ 2 cups frozen mango
+ 2 cups fresh spinach
+ 2 cups chilled coconut water
+ ½ cup frozen pineapple
Directions
Rinse spinach. Combine all ingredients in a blender, cover and blend until smooth. For a thinner consistency, add up to a ¾ cup of additional coconut water and continue blending until smooth.
Orange Banana Sunrise
Makes two servings
The orange juice in this smoothie gives it a fresh, bright flavor, while the banana and almond milk combination gives it a smooth, creamy consistency. This one makes a great breakfast snack for mornings on the go.
Ingredients
1 large frozen banana, cut into chunks
2 cups almond milk
2 Tbsp orange juice (fresh squeezed is best)
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Dash of cinnamon
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender, cover and blend until smooth. For a thinner consistency, add in an additional ½ cup of almond milk and 1 Tbsp of orange juice. Continue blending until smooth.
Pink Lemonade Watermelon Slush
Makes 6 servings
One sip and we think you’ll agree—this slush tastes like summer in a cup. This is the perfect drink to make for an outdoor summer gathering or even as a fun addition to a weeknight family dinner. Note that this recipe makes 6 servings.
Ingredients
5 cups frozen seedless watermelon cubes*
1 cup fresh lemon juice
½ to ¾ cup Simple Syrup
Thinly sliced watermelon or lemon wedges for garnish
Directions
Combine watermelon, lemon juice, and Simple Syrup in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth, stopping and scraping sides as needed. For a thinner consistency, add up to 1 cup cold water and continue blending until smooth. Serve immediately with a watermelon or lemon wedge and straw.
*Tip: The easiest way to freeze watermelon cubes is to place them on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, they will not stick to the paper.
Simple Syrup Recipe
Makes about 1.5 cups
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
Directions
In a small saucepan combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat without stirring. Boil about 1 minute or until clear. Pour into a clean, heat-proof jar and let cool. Add lid and store in the refrigerator up to one month.
To add these to your recipe box, click hereOpens in new tab to download and print cards. As the weather heats up, we hope these summer drinks keep you refreshed and cool!
